Ex-sheriff Butterworth Joins Race For Attorney General

TALLAHASSEE -- As much as $700,000 behind the competition in fund raising, former Broward County sheriff Bob Butterworth became a Democratic candidate for Florida attorney general Monday.

His entry is late, more than a year after candidates began seeking the office and only two months before the primary.

The two top Democrats running for attorney general, Sen. Edgar Dunn of Daytona Beach and Sen. Joe Gersten of South Miami, have collected $700,000 and $400,000 respectively.

But Butterworth -- a 43-year-old Hollywood attorney whose law enforcement credentials run from prosecutor, to judge, to sheriff, to director of the agency overseeing the Florida Highway Patrol -- shrugged off questions about his catching up.

His doubts about jumping in late dwindled after politicians and law enforcement people started ``a draft movement`` to get him to run, Butterworth said. ``I have found out in this race most people are not committed,`` he said.

Butterworth has $250,000 in pledges from potential contributors and hopes to raise a total of $750,000 by the Sept. 2 primary.

Gersten, meanwhile, wasted no time attacking Butterworth. Noting Butterworth is ``a nice guy,`` Gersten went on to say, ``I don`t think Bob`s changing jobs every couple of years will help him in this race. That may become an issue.``

In his kick-off, Butterworth concentrated on his experience and said he`s waiting to disclose his platform. He did say, ``I believe people don`t mind being taxed additional dollars for law enforcement.``

His most recent public job lasted 10 months when Gov. Bob Graham appointed him interim Sunrise mayor to replace John Lomelo, convicted of extortion. There Butterworth concentrated on cleaning up city government.

He left that office in September 1985 to become a law partner of Senate President-elect Ken Jenne, D-Hollywood, a longtime political ally. Right now, though, he`s taking a leave of absence from that firm -- and Jenne and he are keeping a polite political distance so as not to offend any of each others` supporters.

From November 1982 to July 1984, Butterworth was executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, where part of his job was ending scandal in the FHP. He left the sheriff`s post to take the state appointment. He became sheriff in 1978, also by appointment, and was elected sheriff in 1980.

``I will serve as attorney general as long as voters keep me in office,`` said Butterworth when asked about his tendency to switch jobs.